Well, I'm back with more. Well, this chapter really just provides back story, but it's important. Please read and enjoy.

Ashkash: Thanks for the review.You have no idea how nasty things are going to get.
Al: Well, thanks for taking a look. Hope you come back and read more soon.

Chapter 2:How it all began

"Ladies, gentlemen and ego centric scientists, welcome to Triac."

Elizabeth smiled at John as they left the Gate. Ronon and Teyla were behind them, talking quietly. Rodney was at the back of the group mumbling.

"I am not ego centric. At least I'm not a narcissist like some people."

"Rodney, I heard that. And I know what it means!"

Elizabeth laughed. She hadn't laughed in a long time. Not with the war.

The war with the Genii had been going on for 4 years. After the defeat of the Wraith just 5 years after their arrival in the galaxy, the Genii had turned their attentions to fighting a new enemy, the Atlanteans. The Genii had spies and soldiers on nearly every world, and there was no telling where they'd strike next. Even worse was that just after the end of the Wraith, the Genii had suffered a coup. Now, Koyla was in charge and he cared even less for the Atlanteans than their assassinated ex-leader. However, the Atlanteans had far superior weaponry, and the war was going their way.

For the moment.

They carried on walking until; at last, the capital city of Triac came into view. They were not a technologically advanced people, but they were willing to offer food, and shelter if needed. Elizabeth had come to discuss a treaty. With the Daedalus almost now permanently stationed in the Pegasus galaxy, Elizabeth found that she could more easily act as a diplomat off-world, leaving Caldwell in charge. She didn't entirely like leaving him in charge, but John was normally off-world with her, so she couldn't leave him in charge.

John didn't like leaving Caldwell in charge, or having Elizabeth off-world. A captured Genii spy had told them that Elizabeth was the Atlantean most wanted by Koyla. Everyone had always assumed John would be the most wanted, after the two previous run-ins with Koyla. John however had been demoted to second most wanted. John had complained to Elizabeth for days after, but he was now more protective of her than ever. Elizabeth outwardly seemed to detest this, but secretly, she was pleased to have him as her guardian.

"Colonel Sheppard, you have returned. Wonderful. And you have brought your leader?"

"Yep. You said you wanted our leader, and here she is."

Elizabeth smiled and bowed her head to the man before him.

"Lord Fayer, it is an honour to meet you. My name is Doctor Elizabeth Weir."

"I see. It is an honour to meet you also."

Lord Fayer bowed his head too and smiled at Elizabeth. When the whole group had arrived, with Rodney still complaining at the back, they began to walk to the city. Elizabeth walked with the Lord, talking about the treaty. John fell back to walk with Teyla and Ronon.

"This is looking good."

"The treaty is not definite yet."

"Oh come on Teyla, look at them. The deal looks pretty solid from here."

"Ever heard of not counting your chickens before they're hatched."

Ronon turned around to look at Rodney.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Rodney opened his mouth to argue, when Fayer spoke from the front of the group.

"I hope you will not find me rude, but I must speak to Doctor Weir alone for the treaty. Could you all wait out here?"

John looked a little worried. Elizabeth stepped across to him and placed her hand on his arm.

"I'll be okay John. Don't worry."

He looked as if he were about to argue, but instead sighed and nodded.

"Promise me you'll yell if anything happens."

"Of course."

With a smile, she turned and walked into the palace with Fayer.

The room in which the treaty was to be discussed was fairly large, but the large log fire at one side made it feel homely. Elizabeth seated herself in a large chair next to the head of the table. On the table there was a jug of wine and three cups.

"Are we expecting someone else?"

"Yes, a good friend of mine. He deeply wishes to meet you."

Elizabeth smiled and settled down, and then she looked up at Fayer again. He was stood looking at the door behind her.

"You only found out who I was a few minutes ago, how do you know he wants to meet me?"

Fayer looked down at her. His smile was twisted and cruel.

"I've known exactly who you are ever since John Sheppard stepped through that Gate."

"Oh god."

Elizabeth practically jumped out of her seat and ran for the door. It suddenly swung open and she found herself staring at a group of soldiers.

She stepped back and scrabbled desperately for her radio. The lead of the group held up his weapon and pointed at her.

"John!"

She screamed out, praying he'd hear.

The leader fired, and a bolt of blue energy hit her squarely in the chest. She crumpled to the floor.

Outside, John heard the scream through a partly open window.

"Elizabeth!"

He shouted and ran for the main door of the palace. As he did, a large group of Genii soldiers came running out of the building. John jumped sideways to avoid the blasts, carefully aimed at him. Turning his head, he watched as Ronon fell. Teyla was instantly by his side. John began firing at the soldiers, who barely seemed to react.

"We need to get out of here!"

John ran across to Teyla and Rodney who were trying to carry Ronon between them.

"Teyla, we'll try to carry him. Rodney, take the P90 and fire like crazy at those Genii bastards."

Both nodded, and took up their positions. As they retreated, Rodney saw the site he had never wanted to see. In the doorway of the palace, the leader of the group of soldiers was stood smiling. Over his shoulder he had the body of Elizabeth. He tried not to cry out.

The Genii had killed her.

Anger overtook him, and Rodney began to fire at the Genii. He screamed out as he fired, and watched with growing dismay as few of the soldiers fell.

"John, they've got armour or something!"

"Just keep firing, we're nearly there!"

Rodney kept firing, but he knew it was hopeless. The blue bolts were getting closer to their targets. They weren't going to kill them too.

"Rodney, run for the Gate! Dial it up!"

"Right."

Stopping firing, he ran around the slower group and sprinted for the DHD. With a speed unknown to him, he reached the DHD and began to dial up the Gate. He also punched in his IDC code, before turning to the scene behind him. Teyla and John were almost at the Gate with Ronon's body. Raising the P90 again, he began to fire again at the Genii. When they finally reached the Gate, the four fell through and onto the hard floor of Atlantis.

Rodney then watched as John was hit as the bolts were fired through the Gate. It was all wrong. The Genii were supposed to be losing this war, but in one brief moment, they'd killed the most important people to Atlantis.

The Genii had gotten their 'upper hand'.

The Genii were winning the war.